Just a few rain drops

I’ve been home for over a month, and today…for the first time…it rained.

The night sky has been a dark grey for the past week or so, teasing us with the smell of rain, but never delivering. I thought after four years of Pennsylvania weather, I would never care if I felt rain again. I forgot what the desert can do to you…..

Just the smell made me wish it would just start spontaneously pouring. As much as I actually hate when it does that (what if you’re out?! what if you forgot your umbrella and you get soaked?! what iiiiif? ugh.), I do miss the rain.

I spent most of the morning sitting on our deck with my crossword and my new book. It was a clear blue sky and a verryyyy warm 100 degrees. Around three o’clock the clouds started rolling in from the North. I could smell it. Fresh rain, on its way. The lightning was going, the wind started up–everything in the mix for the perfect summer storm.

This is what makes the desert so different. It was like two completely different days. Morning-hot desert sun, no wind and not a cloud in sight. Then….all of a sudden, it’s there.

My Mom and I decided to go for a walk, hoping (actually, assuming) it wouldn’t rain. Since, uh, it never does.

As we finished and started walking up the hill to our house, I was a little disappointed. I thought maaaybe, just maybe, we would get at least a few drops. And I said “I’m kinda sad it never rained…”.

Cue: HUGE rain drops. Falling. On me. Yesssssss.

It started dripping, and then actually raining. Huge, huuge rain drops. Coming straight down and dotting the sidewalk. It was beautiful. In perfect desert fashion, it lasted about 2 minutes, and stopped. But, oh, did it feel good.

I don’t even have clubs…

Golf clubs. I don’t have them. Why would I use them? Well, I wouldn’t. So instead, I’ll borrow them. Just for today.

My Dad loves to golf-he’s pretty good at it actually, winning a few tournaments here and there. On one of his days “off” you can always find him at the golf course, and if there’s any major tournament going on (Tiger is a cutie, that’s all I know about “major tournaments”) then he’s definitely watching it on TV.

My older brother and younger sister (yup, I’m in the middle) have both started to aquire some….hmm…skills? They go to school together and have hit the course up a few times.

Where does this leave me? It leaves me as the last child, of us three, who hasn’t picked up the sport. I’m the only one who has Never walked an entire golf course. Although, I do feel like I should acknowledge that I have traveled an entire golf course…..in the cart. My sis and I used to go with my dad on Sunday afternoons, just so we could “drive” the cart. Before you have a driver’s license, this was the next best thing!! I got such a kick out of driving those small white things all around. With one universal key that started all of them, it’s a wonder I didn’t just run off with one to have for my own. Nothing was stopping me….if you think about it…..except morals, maybe? Yes, that must’ve been it. Geeze, such a good kid.

Anywayyyy. My Dad and I both have the day off tomorrow…sooo…I have finally agreed to a game. There’s a Par 3 course here, and thats as far as we’re goin’ right now. Don’t want to get too crazy over here. I’m assuming my score will be around..oohh, you know…the 90s….maybe 100s? Yah, that sounds about right.

I’ll keep ya posted on that….

Ehhhhh

The Hole in My Closet

I currently have, in my possession (on loan from one of my bestest buddies), ALL Six seasons of Sex & the City.

My mom saw the movie and actually liked it (which shocked me a little bit), so I’m making her start from Day 1. So far so good, although I did forget how…umm…risqué?… the first few episodes are. A little awkward for Mom-bonding time, but whatev. All in the name of a fabulous show, right? Right.

Watching the girls shop, and be in fabulous clothes, and strut around in their Manolo’s….just a small reminder of the fact that there is absolutely NO decent shopping to speak of within at least a 100 mile radius of this town. Seriously. You think I’m exaggerating…I am Not. The closest decent malls are at least 3 hours away, and the closest amazing malls are about 6-7 hours. Depending on which direction you go (Denver, Phoenix, Dallas….you know). This is the only problem with the West Coast. Everything is soooo freakin spreeead out. Cities are not within an hour or two of each other, you can’t just hop around on a train and get somewhere as soon as possible. It just doesn’t work like that. Apparently the early settlers decided they had a lot of space to work with, and they might as well take advantage of it. And they did just that.

Anyway! I’m getting side-tracked. I had this sudden urge to go shopping today. I wanted a cute new dress (although Target can sometimes satisfy a bargain-craving…it just doesn’t do the trick every time). I want some fun new summery tops. I want big stores, and lots of choices.

Even watching “What Not to Wear” this morning got to me (yes! I finally figured out what time it comes on here. Oh, math+time zones. Gah).  All those shops and $5,000 to spend and cute cute cute clothes!! TLC-what are you doing to me?! Not fair.

I’ve resorted to some online shopping tonight, which I’m totally in love with. Browsing page after page without moving a muscle. Genius. And clicking ‘Add to My Cart’ over and over….essentially just creating a wishlist that will dissappear as soon as I close the browser and forget about it.    It’s not going to satisfy any of the above “cravings”, but it’ll at least subdue them for now.

Day 1 on the Job

I spent about two hours today doing paperwork, giving fingerprints and blood (MMR test), and getting a TB skin test (ewwww). Luckily the little bubble went away, and I’m hoping that means I do Not have TB. But thanks for checking hospital-people.

I’m a little scared to actually be working in a hospital for the first time. I know it has to happen eventually, but it’s weeeird. I’ll be around sick people, all the time. Some really sick people, some healing people, some little people, some old people. That’s a lot of people. At least I’ll be delivering them food, so they’ll (hopefully) be happy to see me when I waltz into their room unannounced on a daily basis.

I realized something today–every job I’ve ever had has been for a decided period of time. Does that sound weird? I mean, I’ve always known when it will end. All my jobs have been one of three things–a summer job, an internship, or a school-job (only lasting until graduation). The longest I’ve ever been at one job is two years, and that was at the library. When they hired me (right before our Junior year) I remember them asking what year I was….and then saying “Oh good! We’ll have you for about two years…”….and I had a little mini panic attack in my head. Two YEARS?! That seemed sooo long to me at the time.

Here I am, yet again, starting a ’summer’ job. There’s a clear start, with an end in sight. I know there’s not much I can do about this. I do have to start ’school’ again in the Fall, and that’s just how it is. I just wonder….when I have to go out, and get that Real job, what will happen inside my head? Will the idea of no time-line–of the job being “indefinite”–cause mini-panic attacks over and over? Will I get restless?

I know (or..umm….I hope!) I’m not the only graduate who feels this way.

And until I actually have to face this, I’m going head first into Job #1 post-college. Wish me luck!

Watch out for this Crazy Spring Break-er

I leave tomorrow to head back to the lovely (cold) state of PA, meaning I am wrapping up “Spring Break-2008″. 

I won’t be leaving with any hangovers, all-nighters, bankruptcy from bar tabs, or anything of the sort. I still have money in my bank account and only a few new purchases to travel back with. Instead of having the assumed College Spring Break experience, I have, as usual, done my own thing. My first spring break was spent showing my new (at the time) best friend (and future roommate to this day) the lovely Southwest. She had never been down here and it was so much fun. The next year I was at Disney, and last year I spent it with Jack at his apartment, lounging around and taking a weekend in Chicago.

This year, I spent the first weekend down south with the siblings, which did include the day trip to Mexico.  So I guess I did at least one typical SB thing.  But more importantly, I got to see my little sis all grown up and starting her college life. I got to spend another night hanging out with my brother and his buddies, sippin’ on drinks and playing beer pong at their house.  And I soaked in the fact that everybody calls us “triplets” because, despite 2 year age differences, we all look so much alike. I love that.

A friend of mine was there for the weekend too, so we rode up to F-town (home) together.  I was a little nervous about it being awkward at times, not because of our friendship, but the sole fact that 6 hours is a long time to be in the car with one other person.  Yet, we had a lot to catch up on, and we pick up right where we left off. Again emphasizing that I love roadtrips. Although I could have done without hearing “Low” (aka “apple bottom jeans…..” you know the words) FIVE times. Ew.

The rest of my break has consisted of long morning runs, reading books, beating my dad at cards (rare!!), renting chick-flicks with my mom, cocktails and cooking some delicious dinners and brownies! I’ve done a lot Less homework than I originally planned, but wouldn’t trade my sitting around and napping for that. Yesterday we went out to lunch, and got pedicures and went to Target. I don’t think it gets any better…

Today I’ve been playing travel agent and booking flights for my entire family to PA for my graduation, followed by a little excursion down to Orlando. After about two hours, everything is done and the trip is planned. Gooood stuff.

And now, rested up and ready (sad) to finish the semester, I end my last Spring break.  Tonight will be drinks and a movie with a friend, followed by the packing that I should be doing right now. Then it’s back to the college life!

This is me Cooking, part 3

It was my first day home, and I was put to work.

With dinner plans in mind and options open for desert, I headed to the grocery store. The menu tonight:
Baked Penne Pasta w/ Italian (turkey) Sausage & Peanut butter cup Brownies

This pasta dish has become a family (and roommate) favorite. It’s easy, healthy, and oh-SO-delicious. On top of all that, it’s “training worthy”, meaning lots of protein and good carbs. Necessary at this point!

Here’s what you need:
6 cups Penne Pasta (I usually buy the “Plus” pasta. It has lots of protein and is made with whole-wheat)
1 can diced tomatoes
2 cups Marinara sauce (Amount: add more as you like. Type: your choice. We went with the “Garden veggie” kind tonight for some extra flavor)
1/2 onion, yellow, diced
1 tbsp Garlic, minced (canned or fresh, do what you do)
1 lb Italian Turkey Sausage (sweet or spicy, either works!)
1/2 cup Mozerella (Low-fat, part-skim)
1/4 cup Parmesan, grated

Preheat the oven to 350º. Cook the pasta as directed. Sauté onions and garlic in a large non-stick skillet, throw in some salt & pepper to your taste.  Add the turkey-sausage and cook until brown.  Combine the pasta and sausage-mix into a large casserole dish.  Mix in the diced tomatoes and marinara sauce.
Top with the mozerella and parmesan cheeses. Bake for 25 minutes, or until you like the way the cheese looks on top!

Eat & enjoy!! Throw in a side salad for some vegetables and leafy greens. You’ve got yourself a healthy & satisfying meal! This recipe makes about 4 servings.

I wish I could take credit for the amazing peanut-butter cup brownies, but all I did was add eggs, water & oil. Sometimes you take the easy route (boxed brownie mix), and mmmm is it delicious!

Home Sweet Home

Moving to Pennsylvania four years ago was definitely a transition for me. I had to get used to a lot of rainy days, a lot less sunny days, extremely cold days, a lack of Spring days, and months of snowy days. The adjustment was hard, but it did make me appreciate where I’m from a lot more! Not that I don’t think Pennsylvania is beautiful, because I truly do! But every time I go home, the desert never lets me down. It’s full of rock formations, mountains, various colors of sand and stone, canyons, bright blue skies, amazing sunsets, and blankets of sunshine.

It’s not always warm (despite what some might think…or in my case, hope), but I can handle that now. There isn’t green grass everywhere you look, but thats what makes it different. Some people even have rocks as part of their “lawn”…which I had never thought of as strange before I lived here. We need Sprinkler systems to keep the grass alive, because it doesn’t rain enough. It took me 3 years to realize there are No sprinklers here. Weeeird.

This is what I come home to :

Packin’ Up

Packing is always a challenge for me. I never know what to bring and what not to bring. I always bring too much. I’m always worried that my suitcase(s) will be over the 50 lb limit when I fly home. I never plan ahead and leave some space, despite the fact that I always have more stuff going back due to shopping, gifts, etc.

The long breaks are harder, obviously because I pack a lot more. I want to have everything with me when I’m home, so I always over-do it. The first thing I do when I get home is UNpack, because there’s nothing I hate more than living out of a suitcase. Even if I’m only here for a few days, everything is out of the suitcase and into the closet right away! Then I put my suitcases where I can’t see them. Then, I can relax.

Today, I have load it all up again. Between Christmas, traveling, shopping and more shopping….I have accumulated a lot of things. All of it has to fit back into the two big suitcases I brought with me, that were full to begin with. Ehhhhh.

Then there’s the question of what will be my “carry-on”, and what to pack in that. As a frequent flier and victim of the new regulations on what is allowed/not allowed in your carry-on bag, these are what I consider essentials:

• Ipod
• Wallet (don’t forget that ID!!!)
• Gum
• Magazine(s)
• Lotion (that now has to be under 3 oz, and in a plastic bag. Because clearly plastic bags will protect us from the terrorists)
• A good book

I used to always bring a bottle of water to avoid having to buy one for $3, but that’s not allowed anymore. No liquid over 3 oz, and like I mentioned above, all liquids have to be in a small plastic bag. I have yet to figure out how this is protecting us from anything. Any insight into this?? I always wonder….

I do have some buddies around here that like to “help” me pack. We have 3 cats that all love to climb into a bag or box of any form, whether they fit or not. Then they peek their cute little heads out and purr. They are always so proud of themselves for finding a way into this new contraption. When I pull out empty suitcases to start the packing process, they have a new playground. They immediately climb in, lay down, and look up at me like “Hey can I come too??” Personally, I would love to bring them back to school with me. But they definitely would not fit, or be any help towards meeting that 50 lb mark (they are a little large, in LB’s words “WHOA! big ass cats”. haha)

Alright, back to the disaster that is currently my room. This is an all day task, not fun. Only to unpack it all tomorrow. Which is actually really fun around our apartment, because we all run around showing off our New stuff and trying on each other’s clothes/shoes. That is the only thing that makes this process exciting.

Weather Confusion

I go to school in Pennsylvania. It’s supposed to be cold there. During the winter it is usually about 10 degrees outside and it snows a lot.  That’s just how it is.

I live in the desert of the Southwest. Close enough to Colorado to get some cold weather during the winter and beautiful temperatures and sunshine during the Fall, Spring and Summer.

During January, it should not be 60 degrees in Pennsylvania and 20 degrees here.  It should not be sunny in State College while the sky is dumping 3 inches of snow in the southwest!  Something is definitely not right here. The weather got confused. I am not amused.

I have spent all day inside, with the exception of half an hour this afternoon when I got to shovel snow off our driveway. I’m not really complaining about this, days like that can be nice; curling up in a blanket and reading or watching TV and movies “The Office”.

I guess I should enjoy this now, since we start the Spring semester exactly one week from today.  From then on, when it snows, I’ll be pulling on some boots and layers of clothes and trekking to classes all day instead.  Ehhhhh.